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Claimants in a class-action case springing from the Lac-Mégantic tragedy last summer are now also targeting Transport Canada — alleging gross negligence in the way the federal rail regulator applied rail-safety rules.

Supporters of the now defunct single-desk Canadian Wheat Board are blaming the federal government for a transportation backlog that has left three million tonnes of wheat and canola sitting stranded on the Prairies. Railway congestion in the aftermath of 2013’s record crop has resulted in millions of dollars in demurrage penalties for grain companies unable to load ships in a timely fashion. And many farmers with willing buyers have no way to deliver their product.

Jen Bysterveld should soon be able to enjoy a reliable night’s sleep, after a ruling against her noisy neighbour. Since her neighbour is one of Canada’s largest train yards, repairing a couple dozen locomotives nightly, appealing merely to the city bylaw department would do nothing.